Five burning questions as Cowboys watch playoffs

Longer-than-planned offseasons becoming norm.

By Tom Orsborn :
January 1, 2013
: Updated: January 9, 2013 10:58am

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo looks to pass the ball against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, during the first half at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Sunday Sept. 23, 2012. Will Romo get an extension?

Photo By Edward A. Ornelas/San Antonio Express-News

Dallas Cowboys' defensive coordinator Rob Ryan walks the sidelines during second half action against the Chicago Bears Monday, Oct. 1, 2012, at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. The Bears won 34-18. Will Ryan return as defensive coordinator?

Photo By Edward A. Ornelas/San Antonio Express-News

The Chicago Bears' Matt Forte (center) is tackled by Dallas Cowboys defenders during second half action Monday, Oct. 1, 2012, at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. The Bears won 34-18. Will there be a significant roster turnover?

Photo By Edward A. Ornelas/San Antonio Express-News

The Washington Redskins' Robert Griffin III is sacked by the Dallas Cowboys' Anthony Spencer during first half action Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012, at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. Will Spencer get a long-term deal?

Photo By Edward A. Ornelas/San Antonio Express-News

Offensive lineman Derrick Dockery listens to Dallas Cowboys offensive line coach Bill Callahan as he tries out for the team during 2012 training camp held Wednesday, Aug 3, 2012, in Oxnard, Calif. What position will be targeted in the draft?

IRVING — Washington won the NFC East by sweeping Dallas for the first time since 2005, but that doesn't mean the Cowboys are ready to remake their roster solely for the purpose of stopping Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III and running back Alfred Morris.

The rookies combined for 375 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns in leading Washington to a 28-18 victory over Dallas in Sunday's playoffs-or-bust regular season finale. The Cowboys also couldn't stop them in losing 38-31 on Thanksgiving.

“It's a really important concept in the NFL to understand how to win your division, and often times, you make personnel decisions to beat the teams you play twice a year,” coach Jason Garrett said.

“But each of those teams has different strengths, and if you spend all your time saying, 'I'm going to beat this team and this team and this team,' maybe you're not really having the identity you want for your team.

“Hopefully, you get to a point where they're trying to get their team to beat your team.”

With that said, here's a look at five burning questions the Cowboys face while trying to build a team that can unseat the Redskins as division champs in 2013:

Will Tony Romo get an extension? Romo is set to count $16.8 million against the 2013 cap, so an extension would lower that figure and allow for more roster upgrades. But the reasons Dallas will keep him go beyond business.

At 33 next season, he's still in the prime of his career and is coming off a statistically superior season. Sure, his 19 interceptions are a problem, but without him, the Cowboys are a sub-.500 team. With him, they have a chance to win the division — provided the running game and defense improve.

“We have to try to help him be in the best situation he can be in going forward,” said Garrett, who plans to continue calling plays because a change might be detrimental to Romo. “We're in a system right now Tony is very comfortable in.”

While it's true Ryan's bluster never matches his production, it's hard to fire a guy who had to deal with so many injuries, including the loss of six regulars. And even without such stalwarts as linebackers Sean Lee and Bruce Carter, the patchwork unit was competitive.

“I have a lot of confidence in Rob Ryan,” Garrett said.

Will there be a significant roster turnover? According to ESPNDallas.com, the Cowboys are over the projected $121 million salary cap for 2013 by roughly $20 million, which means some big names such as nose tackle Jay Ratliff, right tackle Doug Free and receiver Miles Austin could be released if they won't agree to have their contracts re-worked.

Will Anthony Spencer get a long-term deal? The outside linebacker notched a career-best 11 sacks while getting paid $8.8 million under the franchise tag. He stands to make $10.6 million if the Cowboys slap the tag on him again, a high number for a team with cap issues.

Garrett, though, indicated it would be worth it to give Spencer what he wants.

“At critical moments this season, he was the guy making the plays,” Garrett said.

What position will be targeted in the draft? The Cowboys will pick 18th in the first round, a perfect spot to take an offensive lineman.